GEORGE WASHINGTON/JEFFERSON NATIONAL FOREST
5162 Valleypointe Parkway, Roanoke, VA 24019
(540) 265-5100
RECREATIONAL OFFERINGS
Guest River Gorge Trail
Clinch Ranger District
9416 Darden Drive, Wise, VA 24293
(888) 265-0019 or (540) 328-2931
Website: southernregion.fs.fed.us/gwj
  • Is located in Wise and Scott Counties. Trail has a gravel surface.
  • biking and hiking opportunities can be found here
  • 5.8 miles long
MOUNTAIN BIKING - there are thousands of miles of trails and roads available for use. Available year round. No permits, fees or registration required for individuals and small groups. Riding mountain bikes is permitted on any forest road or trail unless it is specifically noted that riding is NOT permitted. Some of the trails are: Massanutten Mountain, Elizabeth Furnace Trail and the Edinburg Gap Trail.
HIGHLAND SCENIC TOUR - this National Forest Scenic Byway weaves through a landscape of diverse vegetation, scenic views, unique geological formations and an abundance of wildlife. There are numerous historic places found along the route also. The trail is approximately 19 miles long. Some of the notable stops:
  • Goshen Entrance
  • Rhododendron Trail - 268 ft. easy trail. Accessible for wheel chairs and walkers. 2, 700 ft. above sea level the weather is cooler and the growing season is shorter. The evergreen rhododendron here average about 100 years old. Wildlife are abundant here - white tailed deer and wood rat are examples.
  • Knoll Wayside Trail - diverse plant and animal life found here.
  • Cocks Comb Trail & Overlook - moderately steep trail, view of Rich Hole Wilderness to the west.
  • North Mountain Overlook Trail - In the distance is the Blue Ridge Mountains.
  • Colonel Jordan Wayside - leds one down the mountain. Hand laid rock retaining wall.
SHOOTING RANGES - these ranges are designed solely for shooting at stationary targets except for the Blacksburg range. There is no fee, but donations are accepted.
  • Hite Hollow - 6 covered lanes, Vault bathroom, maximum distance 100 yards. Rifles, pistols, shotguns
  • West Side - 8 covered lanes. Vault bathroom, maximum distance 100 yards.
  • Bath County - 10 covered lanes. Vault bathroom, maximum distance 100 yards. Shooting at 50 and 100 yards.
  • Low Moor - 6 covered lanes.. Vault bathroom, maximum distance 100 yards.
  • Blacksburg - 10 covered lanes, 10 uncovered lanes. Vault bathroom, maximum distance 100 yards. Two facilities: 18 position rifle/pistol range and a single position shotgun
  • Potts Slope - 8 covered lanes, no bathrooms, maximum distance 100 yards
  • Wytheville - 5 uncovered lanes, vault bathroom, maximum distance 110 yards
BOAT RAMPS & LAUNCHES
  • Lake Keokee - accessible fishing trail and platform, boat ramp. No gas powered boats, no potable water provided. Vault bathroom. Open all year.
FISHING - over 2,000 miles of streams and over 4,000 acres of lakes, ponds and reservoirs over the GW/J National Forest. There are over 100 species of freshwater fish and mussels. Native brook trout, stocked trout and warm water fishing abound.

Reservoirs:

Keokee Lake - boat access at the lake. 92 acre reservoir - warm water fishing opportunities. Largemouth bass, sunfish, catfish.

North Fork of Pound Lake - boat access and the Pound & Wise launch. 154 acre impoundment near the KY border. Largemouth bass, spotted bass, sunfish, walleye.

Beartree Lake - Access at State Route 58, no boats allowed. 14-acre coldwater lake w/beach and bathhouse. Showers and wheelchair access, fishing docks and trailside fishing. Stocked brook trout, rainbow trout and brown trout.

Pandapas Pond - Access State Route 460, north of Blacksburg VA. 8-acre pond. Canoeing and fishing. Largemouth bass, bluegill

Sherando Lake - Access State Route 664 South, near Blueridge Parkway. All year warm water fishing. 65 campgrounds. 24-acre lake has swimming, boating. Largemouth bass, catfish, brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout

Lake Moomaw - Access available at Fortney Branch and Coles Point. 2,350 acre reservoir is a premier fishing lake. Two story fishery that supports both coldwater and warmwater species. 2 campgrounds, picnic areas and 2 beaches. Brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish, yellow perch

Braley Pond - Access off Hwy 250 to Route 715. 5 acre pond. Primitive camping in the area. Picnic sites and bathrooms. Stocked trout, largemouth bass, bluegill and channel catfish

Brandywine Lake - 10 acre lake, 30 site campground w/warm showers and dump station. Swimming and picnic area. Stocked trout

Elkhorn Lake - primitive camping in the area, 54 acre reservoir stocked in spring and fall with trout. Largemouth bass, catfish, sunfish, fishery

Rockcliff Lake - 50 campsites at the campground. Canoes and boats are allowed in the 17-acre Lake. Separate trout pond. Stocked trout

Rivers:

Pound River - stocked trout, smallmouth bass, rock bass

New River - largemouth bass, spotted bass, smallmouth bass, rock bass, redbreast sunfish, channel catfish, musky, walleye. Campground, picnic sites, hiking, viewing and biking opportunities

South Fork Holston River - brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass, walleye, white bass, musky.

James River - smallmouth bass, rock bass, redbreast sunfish, muskellunge, bluegill, largemouth bass, channel catfish. Primitive and developed camping.

St. Mary's River - native brook trout. Primitive camping

Jackson River - brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, smallmouth bass, rockbass, chain pickeral. 30 campsites with restroom facilities.

Cowpasture River - smallmouth bass, rock bass, chain pickeral. Primitive camping in the area. Wading, floating opportunities

North River - brook and stocked trout. Campsites with restroom facilities.

Dry River - brook and stocked trout. Primitive camping

Shenandoah River - smallmouth bass, crappie, rock bass, redbreast sunfish, chain pickeral. Primitive camping, scenic, float fishing opportunities

Small Streams:

Passage Creek - stocked trout, campground with 30 campsites, picnic area, hiking trails and a historic iron furnace

Ramseys Draft - native brook trout, primitive campground, picnic area, wild trout fishery

Pedlar Riiver - stocked trout, primitive camping

North Creek - wild and stocked trout, campground has 15 sites

Laurel Fork - native brook trout, Adiroondack shelter, picnic area, hiking and scenery trails

Smith Creek - brook, brown & rainbow trout. Primitive camping

Roaring Run - rainbow, brook trout. Picnic area, old iron ore furnace & scenic trail to a waterfall

Little Stony Creek - native brook trout. Cascades Trail and picnic area with restrooms.

Whitetop Laurel - brook, brown & rainbow trout.

Mountain Fork - brook trout. Campsites, swimming beach and lookout tower

ATV/OHV - GW/J National Forest offers four motorized trails. Two are free to the public while the others require users to purchase a special recreation permit. Virginia law requires all ATV uers to wear safety helmets and no double riding allowed. Traffic is 2-way on the trails.
  • Peters Mill Run & Taskers Gap - ATVs, 4WD vehicles, motorbikes, mountain bikes. Easy to difficult. 36 miles. (540) 984-4101
  • Rocky Run OHV/ATV - ATVs, 4WD trucks, motorbikes, mountain bikes. Moderate to difficult. 10 miles. (540) 432-0187
  • South Pedlar - ATVs, motorbikes, mountain bikes. 19 miles. Easy to difficult. (540) 291-2188.
  • Patterson Mountain - ATVs, mountain bikes. 16 miles. Not rated. (540) 552-4641
CAMPGROUNDS - divided into contemporary, traditional, primitive, & equestrian categories.

Contemporary

Trout Pond - 50 sites. Lake with swimming beach, picinic area, playground, hiking trails

Bolar Mountain - 120 sites. Swimming beach, boat ramp, marina, playground and hiking trails, gas powered boats allowed (up to 25')

Sherando Lake - 66 sites. Lake access with swimming beach, picnic pavillion with vending, hiking trails, summer nature programs, no gas powered boats on lake

Stony Fork - 49 sites. Stream and hiking trails. A furnished cabin is available.

Grindstone - 100 sites. playground, sand volleyball, creek-fed wading pool, trails, summer nature programs.

Raccoon Branch - 21 sites, stream, fishing, hiking, grass playfield. No showers.

Bark Camp - 21 sites. Lake with boat ramp, trails, fishing, primitive cabin, no gas powered boats on lake

Cave Springs - 40 sites, pond with swimming beach, fishing, hiking

Cane Patch - 34 sites, playground, basketball, volleyball, amphitheater, swimming area near

Traditional

Elizabeth Furnace - 32 sites, flush restrooms, showers, interpretive trails, historic furnace, log cabing information, creek

Camp Roosevelt - 10 sites, flush restrooms, historic cc site, Has an RV dump station, no pull-through sites. No showers or onsite host

Brandywine - 30 sites, flush restrooms, showers, lake with swimming beach, soccer field, onsite host, no gas powered boats on lake

Todd Lake - 20 sites, flush restrooms, showers, lake with swimming beach, playground, no gas powered boats

Blowing Springs - 23 sites, vault restrooms, water spigots, RV dump station

Hidden Valley - 31 sites, vault restrooms, hand pump, RV dump station, fishing and hiking trails

Morrris Hill - 52 sites, flush restrooms, showers, campground, boat ramps, swimming beach, no houseboats on lake

Cave Mountain Lake - 42 sites, flush restrooms, showers, lake, swimming, beach, fishing

North Creek - 15 sites, vault restrooms, stream fishing

White Rocks - 49 sites, flush restrooms, some sites suitable for RVs, dump station, hiking trails

Beartree - 84 sites, flush restrooms, showers, playground, summer programs, swimming, beach, fishing, hiking and biking trails

Hurricane - 27 sites, flush restrooms, showers, fishing stream, hiking trails, playfield

High Knob - 27 sites, flush restrooms, lake with beach, fishing stream, trails

Primitive

Wolf Gap - 9 sites, trails to Tibbett Knob and Big Schloss. Hand pump for water. Pack out trash.

Hawk - 15 sites, hiking trail to views and hemlock gorge

Little Fort - 2 sites, no drinking water, campers provide their own

North River - 16 sites, no drinking water, campers provide their own

Hone Quarry - 10 sites, stocke lake, hiking trails, no drinking water, campers provider their own.

Camp Run - 9 sites, no drinking water, campers must remove own trash

McClintic Point - 21 sites, vault restrooms, no drinking water, campers must remove own trash

Greenwood Point - 5 sites, hike or boat in only, no drinking water

Steel Bridge - 20 sites, hand-pump for water, mostly tents but RV's also welcome (up to 16 ft), stream fishing

The Pines - 17 sites, vault restroom, drnking water, stream fishing

Walnut Flats - 5 sites, vault restroom,

Comers Rock - 8 sites, campground with picnic shelter w/fireplace

Raven Cliff - 19 sites, fishing, historic furnace, playfield, picnic shelter, no drinking water

Equestrian

White Cedar - 16 sites, vault bathrooms, access to 12 miles of horse trails and corrals provided at each campsite. Playground, no drinking water.

Collins Cove - 10 sites, vault bathrooms, no drinking water, water for horses at creek. Access to Va. Highlands Horse Trail and Ewing Mountain Trail

Fox Creek - 31 sites, portable restrooms, Va. Highlands Horse Trail, drinking water for campers, creek for watering horses.

Hussy Mountain - 10 sites, vault restrooms, access to Va. Highlands Horse Trail and the Iron Mountain Trail, drinking water is provided for campers and creek for horses

Old Virginina Group Camping - 1 group, portable restroom, Va. Highlands Horse Trail, wo water.

WMTH CORPORATION PO BOX 51153 BOWLING GREEN, KY 42102 PHONE (270) 792-5300 FAX 721-0004